Thailand’s Divisive Ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Readies Return During Political Turmoil

BANGKOK — The most contentious former prime minister, billionaire populist Thaksin Shinawatra, expects to return home from years of self-imposed exile next month, his daughter said on Wednesday, as Thailand struggles to name a new leader.

The timing of Thaksin’s planned return on August 10 is politically sensitive because the Pheu Thai party, thought to be the main vehicle for his political interests, is attempting to gain enough support in Parliament to have one of its leaders become Thailand’s 30th prime minister. This was confirmed in a Facebook post by Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn on his 74th birthday.

The progressive Move Forward Party nominee, which won the most votes in the May election, was prevented from being chosen earlier this month due to resistance from the conservative-appointed Senate, which, along with the elected House of Representatives, votes to choose the prime minister.

Thaksin was elected prime minister in 2001 and comfortably reelected in 2005, but he was overthrown by a military takeover in 2006. Thaksin did this by advocating unorthodox populist policies and utilizing the riches he acquired in the telecoms industry to form his own Thai Rak Thai party. He was charged with corruption, abuse of authority, and disrespect for the nation’s monarchy.

He left Thailand in 2008 to avoid serving prison time in multiple criminal proceedings that he criticized as politically motivated, but he still faces a lengthy prison sentence if he ever returns. In 2014, a military coup also overthrew Yingluck Shinawatra’s administration. She was also charged with a crime and exiled.

The most contentious former prime minister, billionaire populist Thaksin Shinawatra, expects to return home from years of self-imposed exile next month, his daughter said on Wednesday, as Thailand struggles to name a new leader.

One of Pheu Thai’s three potential contenders for prime minister is his daughter Paetongtarn.

Thaksin tweeted in May that he wanted to return before his birthday, but Paetongtarn stated earlier this month that he chose to delay his departure because of the uncertainties surrounding the post-election period and because his return might develop into a political issue.

In a post on Facebook on Wednesday, Paetongtarn stated, “We’re both thrilled and scared, but we always respect your decision.

During a birthday celebration for Thaksin held by Pheu Thai party members in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, Thai news sites reported that the former prime minister made a brief video call to express his gratitude and promise to return to Thailand “in the coming days.”

Thaksin delayed his homecoming earlier because he thought the military-backed administration would not treat him fairly after toppling him in 2006. The military has never made amends with Thaksin.

Due to royalist worries, the appointment of a new prime minister has been delayed.

The Move Forward Party’s Pita Limjaroenrat was the first candidate for prime minister that Parliament considered. In the 500-member lower chamber, he cobbled together an eight-party coalition with 312 seats. However, the 250-member Senate and the House must both vote to confirm a new prime minister; Pita’s original attempt on July 13 failed by more than 50 votes, partly because just 13 senators supported him.

Because Pita’s party has called for the modification of legislation that makes it unlawful to disparage Thailand’s royal family, members of the Senate have declared they will not vote for him. Critics claim that the statute, which carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence, has been misused as a political tool. Members of the Senate were chosen by a military government rather than being elected, and like the army, they regarded themselves as defenders of conventionally conservative royalist ideals.

To wait and see how the Constitutional Court would decide whether it was appropriate to deny Pita the chance to be renominated, and as Pheu Thai struggled to secure support for its candidature, a new vote for prime minister scheduled for Thursday was postponed.

SOURCE – (AP)